Hotels meet agents

BANGKOK, 14 March 2012: The Thai Hotels Association partners with the Association of Thai Travel Agents to invite tourism businesses to participate in the Hotels Meet Local Agents Europe, South Africa and Oceania Markets, 27 April, at Ramada Plaza Menam Riverside Hotel.

The association has slots for 50 organisations to meet 50 potential buyers, or local travel agents, with direct partner links in Europe, South Africa and Oceania markets.

Applications are divided into sellers and observers. The event function starts from 1300 to 2000 with four sessions including:

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THA wades into wages

BANGKOK, 14 March 2012: Thai Hotels Association will host a seminar on the hot topic of  a higher minimum wage level that will be applied 1 April.

The association is accepting registrations from hotel representatives and management for the event to be held, 1030 to 1230, 20 March at Asia Hotel, Bangkok.

Department of Labour Protection and Welfare deputy director, Winai Suviroj and Department of Labour director, Ananchai Uthaipattanacheep, are the two keynote speakers. The sessions in Thai language will be open for questions from the audience.

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THA confident Thai hotels are safe

BANGKOK, 13 March 2012: A fire at Grand Park Avenue Hotel, on Sukhumvit 22, that killed two foreigners and injured 20 guests and workers will not slow tourism to the capital, according to Thai Hotels Association’s president, Prakit Chinamourphong.

Commenting on the fire, Monday, he said: “Fires happen in every country and I have every confidence in the safety standards of Thai hotels.”

Commenting on safety standards he claimed four and five-star hotels “particularly managed by international brands” follow stringent security checks and hold fire drills for workers at least twice annually.”

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Vietnamese investor recruits BWI

BA RIA-VUNG TAU, 13 March 2012: Best Western International will manage a property due to open in 2013 in Vietnam’s Ba Ria-Vung Tau province.

BWI confirmed it has signed a management contract with Cong Ty Co Phan Du Lich Hoa Anh Dao to develop a resort complex called Oceanami Tourism and Resort Complex in Phuoc Hai Town in Dat Do district.

The hotel will located on 21 hectares near the Minh Dam Mountain, Nuoc Ngot Mountain Pass, Ky Van cape and Dinh Co Temple.

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Hue and cry over hotel safety

BANGKOK, 12 March 2012: Minister of Tourism and Sports, Chumpol Silpa-archa, has urged relevant units to assist tourists who were injured in the fire at the Grand Park Avenue Hotel last Thursday night.

The hotel, located on Sukhumvit Road Soi 22, was marketed under the Accor Mercure brand until last month when the contract ended.

Accor has not issued any statements on why the Mercure brand agreement was discontinued.

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Hotel fire in Bangkok’s tourist district

BANGKOK, 9 March 2012: Bangkok Metropolitan Police deputy commander Pol Maj-Gen, Anuchai Lekbumrung, reported this morning that a fire at the Grand Park Avenue Hotel on Sukhumvit 22, late Thursday night, was probably caused by an electrical short circuit.

According to latest news, the fire killed one unnamed female foreigner and injured 21 tourists and two Thais, who were transferred to hospitals in the vicinity.

Pol Maj-Gen Anuchai said experts from the Office of Forensic Science had inspected the hotel this morning to determine the cause of the fire. Read more

Hilton continues Thailand expansion

BANGKOK, 8 March 2012: Hilton Worldwide Hotels and Resorts plans to open four hotels in Thailand over the next five years, including the introduction of two brands that have not been represented in the country so far.

Double Tree by Hilton and the Waldorf Astoria are brands that are unfamiliar to the Thailand hospitality sector, although the Waldorf Astoria is billed as the highest in Hilton’s brand portfolio.

In 2012, Double Tree by Hilton will open on a site at Sukhumvit 26, while a standard Hilton Bangkok is due to open on Sukhumvit 24. These two properties are owned by TCC Group, which belongs to beer tycoon, Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, who also owns the local Imperial Hotel group. Read more

Onyx sets expansion goals

BANGKOK, 8 March 2012: ONYX Hospitality Group says it will add six more properties  this year, as well as renovate three existing properties in Thailand.

ONYX’s top management claims it is now on schedule to become one of Asia’s leading hospitality providers with an estimated 51 properties by 2018.

This year alone the group will open five properties including the Amari Dragon Bay in Sanya, China, Amari Ludhiana in India’s Punjab state, the Amari Doha, the Ozo Hong Kong and the Ozo Sri Lanka. Read more

THA objects to minimum wage level

BANGKOK, 8 March 2012: Thai Hotels Association has asked the Thai government to exclude hospitality businesses from further increases in the minimum wage level, claiming staff earn more than the minimal levels when service charges are included.

THA is representing the owners’ view that service charges should be considered as part of a salary.

A new minimum wage level of Bt300 is due to be introduced, 1 April, and will mainly affect companies in and around Bangkok.

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Chonburi will need more rooms

CHONBURI, 6 March 2012: Chonburi province, home to Pattaya beach, is forecasting tourism revenue will increase to Bt100 billion over the next three years and require a bigger investment in five-star hotels to meet demand.

Chonburi Provincial Administration Organisation chairman, Wittaya Khunpluem, claims  tourism generated Bt80 billion on 7 million visitors last year.

The province’s main attraction is Pattaya. Read more

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